Three Great Lakes Nearing Lowest Water Levels Ever

MARQUETTE, MI – (Great Lakes Radio News) – The US Army Corps of Engineers is warning that water levels in Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Superior are very close to all-time record lows.

The Army Corps told reporters Wednesday afternoon that at the current rate, the three upper lakes will likely hit historic low levels as early as this year or early next year.

Recent mild winters, combined with a hot, dry summer have been the main cause of the lower levels. Much wetter weather in October did not significantly reverse the trend of low levels. The low levels are of great concern to commercial shipping and recreational boating.

The October levels were about one to two inches above the record low, and that is lower than it was in September, as well as last year at this time.

The most recent water level update showed the Lake Michigan/Lake Huron basin (treated as one lake by the Corps) being only two inches above the lowest October level ever, recorded in 1964. And Lake Superior is at its lowest October level since 1925.

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